Ozzy Osbourne, aged 76, delivered his final live performance with Black Sabbath on Saturday night at Villa Park in Birmingham, the city where the legendary band was formed.
The momentous set concluded a day-long festival titled "Back to the Beginning," serving as both a tribute and a farewell for the Prince of Darkness.
Metallica’s James Hetfield introduced the evening with a heartfelt homage to Sabbath, crediting them for inspiring generations of musicians. Ozzy's solo set marked his first in nearly seven years and was followed by a reunion performance with original bandmates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward—the first time the quartet had played together since 2005.
Each act at the festival paid tribute to Osbourne and Sabbath, with performances from Metallica, Pantera, Tool, Anthrax, and others. Sabbath's closing four-song set featured “War Pigs,” “N.I.B.,” “Iron Man,” and a stirring finale of “Paranoid.”
Ozzy, seated on a black gothic throne, addressed the crowd before the final song, expressing heartfelt thanks: “Your support over the years has made it all possible.”
Throughout the night, Osbourne engaged with fans, showing raw emotion during “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and unleashing full energy on “Crazy Train.”
The show, streamed globally, was organised by Sharon Osbourne and Tom Morello, bringing together decades of heavy metal history in one final, unforgettable moment.
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